Method and apparatus for visualizing anatomical structures

Abstract

Apparatus and method for producing a virtual road map of a patient's vascular anatomy comprising a virtual 3D model of the patient's vascular and bony structure in proper registration with one another, a fluoroscope for providing real-time images of the bony structure of the patient, registration apparatus for placing the virtual 3D model in proper registration with the patient space of the fluoroscope, bone mask subtraction apparatus for generating a bone mask of the bony structure, and subtracting the same from the real-time images, whereby to create modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, and image generating apparatus for generating the virtual road map comprising a composite image combining (i) images of the virtual 3D structure representing the vascular structure, and (ii) modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, wherein the images of the virtual 3D structure representing vascular structure are in proper registration with the modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure.

Description

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 634,010, filed Dec. 7, 04 by David Chen et al. for INTRAOPERATIVE C-ARM FLUOROSCOPE DATA FUSION SYSTEM, which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to medical systems in general, and more particularly to medical systems for visualizing anatomical structures.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In current medical practice, in order to obtain real-time visualization of the vascular system of a patient, a fluoroscope may be used. The fluoroscope is an X-ray machine which can image moving (or non-moving) internal anatomy. The most common type of fluoroscope found in a vascular surgical suite is the “C-arm” fluoroscope. In the C-arm fluoroscope, the X-ray source and the X-Ray detector are connected together by a “C”-shaped gantry that can rotate (with two degrees of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a system and method for creating a virtual road map of a patient's vascular anatomy without using a contrast agent. This is done by using data from pre-acquired computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and merging it with real-time images from a fluoroscope. The virtual road map is created by overlaying images of the patient's bone structure and blood flow structure, which are in proper registration with each other. This virtual road map is used by a surgeon during a procedure on the patient's vascular anatomy. The invention provides a safer and more efficient way to conduct surgeries on vascular anatomy."

Problems solved by technology

While effective, the foregoing process requires the generation of multiple images, the use of a contrast agent which may be deleterious to the patient's health, the processing associated with image subtraction, etc.

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